Motor vehicle



D. FERGUSSON MOTOR VEHICLE March 7, 1933.

Filed Sept. 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTOR/VE y D. FERGUSSON March 7, 1933,

MOTOR VEHICLE 4 Sheets-Sheet; 2

INVENTOR flauwli'ryusson Filed Sept. 8, 1931 2,9214 TTORNE y D. FERGUSSON MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Sept. 8, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V E N TOR ,Waz/zcZ erya s B Y A TTORNE y March 7, 1933.-

it Patented! n...1, 1933 I 1 9005439' UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE navrn ,rmoussox, or nocnnsrnn, mew vonx, assrenon 'ro Jana commoner, son a comrm, or nocnnsrnn, maw Your, a oonrona'rron or NEW YORK xo'ron .vmncm: Y i puamm September a, 1931. Serial No. 561,589.

- The present invention relates to motor Fig. 5 1s a longitudinal sectuonal elevation vehicles and has for its object to provide taken on the line -521 of Fig. 2; improvements in vehicles of this. classiby Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the i which the body of the vehicle is brought to an line 6,o6a of Fig. '2;

5 extremely low position with respect to the Fig. 7 is\a fragmentary side elevation wheels, whereby to afl'ord .a low center of showing the manner of connecting the sills [gravity and increased stability in vehicles of the engine-supporting frame with the side a generally, as well as to reduce visibility and walls of the body of the vehicle, and

. exposure of vehicles used for military puri- 'Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line .l0 poses. 1 80-80 of Fig. 7.

More specifically: stated, it is an object to Similar reference numerals throughout provide van improved vehicle body and supthe several views indicate the same parts. porting meanstherefor by whichthe'usual. The iriventioniis disclosed in the present chassis or under-frame construction '18 instance as embodied in an armored car, but

15 eliminated and the floor of "the body is ar it will beunderstood, of course, that this 'emranged to lie in a plane below the upper limits bodiinent is described merely by way of illusof movement of one or moreof the axlesby tration and not in any limiting'sense.

which the body is su ported, as wellv as Referringto the drawings, the front wheels below the plane of the lving shaft for the 10 of the vehicle, the axle connecting the 20 axles and other operating parts associated "same and the springs 11 thereon for supportwith the body. v p ing the front 'ndo A further object of theinvention to, proor well knowh type.

vide improved support means for the Atthe oppositeyend of the body two sets body interposed between t e latter tnd cerof traction wheels 12 are provided for car- I the body are of the usual .tain of the wheels and axles upon which the rymg the relatively heavy load of the arm 45 Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation body is mounted. r g ored gunners compartment, thesewheels .A still further ob ectis to provide a motor having the usual axles 13 journaled in the vehicle particularlyadaplted or milltary use, housin 14' which carry at their opposite I such as an armored car, aving the above adends suitable brake drums 15. 130 vantages inc'lud ng the l ati nof the 'gun- The drive for the axles is preferably of -'ners compartment and floor at the: lowest th wo m gear ty e, the driving worms belevel, to reduce the over-all height and ing enclosed in casings lfi'overlying and visibility of the car, as wellas the exposure supported by y the housing 14, as shown in toin1ury by pro ect1les. j Figs. 3' and 5. The worms are driven by a v w To theseand other ends the invention reflexible drive shaft comprising front and sides in, certain improvements andcombina rear sections 17 and 18, respectively, each 'tions of parts, all as will be hereinafter more of which is of the usual telescoping type, fully described, the novel features being the "front section being connected with the pointedout 1n the claims at-the end of the crank 'shaftofi the engine in the usual or- Qf.spec1fi'cat1on.i 7 any preferred manner.

thedrawln 1 ,The engine not shown, is carriedby a i Fig. 1 ma si e elevation of, anarmored' sho'rt 'supportmg frameincluding sideisills car-embodying the invention 19 connected with and supported at its front Fig.' 2 1s a "sectional planof the same; 9 d by the gpri i ll upon'the' fr t l p axleinthe usual manner. Theengineis pro taken substantlally on the line 3a--3a of .te ted byasuitabIe'ho d'QQof anyipf feferred v w a. j 1g. 4 s a transversesectlonal elevation 1 ebody of the:veh1c1e1si m dj0f 36 taken s bs ant qat l f ,t ivel'yjheavazar norplateand 'includes the 50'Fig.'6;' "oppositely pod "21 connectedbya. rear end 'wall 22 and a top wall, not

shown, upon which is rotatably mounted a turret 23 provided with one or moremachine guns 24 or other types of firearms as may be preferred. -Any suitable means, not shown, may be provided for rotating the turret which can ,be conveniently located within the gunners compartment. It will be understood that the turretis also formed of armor plate which, like the walls of thebody is of suit able thickness to provide protection against machine gun bullets and other light projectiles. The side walls 21 are provided with doors 25 which .are also formed of armor plate and which are hinged at 26 to the front I ends 21a of the side walls which terminate at the rear end of the hood 20, as indicated in Fig. 1. The doors are disposed opposite the seat occupiedby the driver of the vehicle who is protected by a suitable overhead construction comprising front and sidewalls 27 and 28, respectively, an overlying wall 29 forming a roof for the drivers compart ment as shown in Fig. 1. The front and side walls 27 and 28 may be of any suitable design which will permit the driver of the vehicle to obtain a proper view. If preferred the front and side walls 27 and28 may be hinged at their upper edges so that they'can be swungto a substantially horizontal position when desired.

w The compartment occupied by the driver preferably constitutes a continuation of the gunners compartment and the entrance to the gunners compartment is preferably through the drivers compartment.

The front or engine supporting frame is directly connected with the forward ends 21a whereby of the side walls of the body, preferably by an overlapping joint in which the rear ends of the sills 19 are secured to the side walls as bymeans of rivets- 19a, whereby a rigid connection is afforded. Preferably the side sills are split and spaced apart at their rear ends .as shown by dotted line-sin Fig. 7, to increase the depth. of the joint between the sills and body plates.

- The side walls of the bod are extended downwardly to a relatively ow point with respect to' t e axles of the traction wheels 12 and are .tied together at a point between the axes of said wheels b a transverse connection 30, which is prefera ly in. the form of a bolster, the construction of which .is best shown n Flg. 4. The bolster is provided adjacent -1ts ends with upwardly inclined portions 31 carrying vertically disposed end flanges 32 which are suitably connected with the body" walls 2 1,as by-means of rivets or bolts not shown.

- The bolster superimposed upon a transversely extending beam or bar 33 with which it is connected b means of bolts 34, a plate. 35 being dispose at'the bottom of the bar to form a slntable bearing for the nuts on the of the bolster, as shown. in Fi rods 47 having their connected with the upper arms 42 and'their greatly lower ends of the bolts. Thebar is also connected with the bolster by means of vertically disposed brackets 36, the upper ends of which are bolted to the horizontal portion 37 4, and the lower ends of which are suitab y connected with the bar 33. 1 i

Upon the extremities of the bar 33 are provided spring seats 38 on each of which rests a leaf spring 39 which is secured uponthe seat by a pair of U-shaped clamping bolts 40,

as shownin Figs. 4 and 6. Theopposite ends of the springs are disposed in pockets formed in Fig.- 6. The lower arms 4l'also serve as 1n arms 41 suitably connected with and de pending from the axle housings 14 asshown supports for the upwardly extending arms 42 which carry bearing portions 43 for engagement with cushioning blocks 44 suitably connected with the side walls of the body at points above the front and rear cutout portions 45 and 46 respectively of said walls, as indicated in Fig. 6. It will be that the bearings 43 will contact with said blocks only upon extreme relative'movement between the axles and body (me toward an- 3 other.

At the sides of the body upper and lower pairs of radius rods 47 and 48 are disposed adjacent each end of the bolster, the upper outer ends pivotally inner ends pivotally connected with. lugs 32a extending inwardl from the vertical end portions 32 of the olster, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower radius rods 48 have their outer ends pivotally connected with the lower arms 41 and their inner ends pivotally connected with the lugs 36a on the brackets 36'as best shown inFig. 4. The radius rods constitute a well known. parallel motion means for properly controlling the movements-of the axles on which j the-traction wheels are mounted, and operate in the usual manner for the purpose of maintaining and guiding the axles in parallel relation.

V The floor of the body is. so constructed as to occupy a position below the upper limits of movement ofnthe axles and of the drive shaft for the axles as well, thus permitting the body to be lowered to a very considerable tunnels or recess portions for'reunderstood iminished. This isaccomplished tions 50 on opposite sides of the drive shaft,

, vehicle.

at their opposite ends which en Longitudinally'extending side tunnels are also provided which are arranged to receive the upper radius rods and certain parts of the brake mechanism described hereinafter. The side tunnels areformed of vertically disposed plates 52 extending upwardly from the floor plates 49 and having horizontally disposed portions 53 which are suitably connected with the side walls 2h of the body at oints above the ends 32 of the bolster, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Upemngs 54 are formed in the plates 52 at points opposite "certain parts of the brake mechanism, said openings being normally closed by removable cover plates 54. shown in Fig. 4.

The transversely extending tunnels for receiving'the axle housings 14 are in the form of inverted channels 55 overlying the housings and extending between and connected with the walls of the central drive shaft receiving tunnel and those of the side tunnels located at the opposite sides of the body. The transverse axle receiving tunnels are preferably provided with flanged portions 56 gage andare secured upon the vertical walls 50 and 52 of said central and side tunnels respectively, as best shown in Fig. 4. The tunnels described above constitute relatively narrow upwardly extending recess portions formed in the floor for receiving the parts specified and serve. as -bracing and strengthening means for the floor sections 49 which overlie the horizontal portions of the bolster and which are preferably supported thereby.

In order to afford ample clearance for the axle drive shaft the upper horizontal portion of the bolster is cut away at its center to an extent substantially equal to the width of the central tunnel. as shown in Fig. 4, so

thatsaid driving shaft will be free to move to a point somewhat belowthe level of the floorwhen the shaft and body are approaching their limits of movement in-one direction. Itwill be seen, therefore, that by reason of the extreme low positionof the floor plates upon which the gunner stands during control 0 the armament,that he is brought relatively close to the ground and that likewise the overall height of the vehicle is greatly reduced wherebythedanger of dama' e to the machine or to the operating crew by re from the enemy is considerably diminished.

The central longitudinally extending inverted channel is provided at its rear end with a. closing wall 57' which is. connected with the rear wall 22 of the body by a hori- -zontally disposed plate 58, Fig. 5. The front end of the inverted channel is preferably inclined downwardly as indicated at 59 and abuts the rear edge of a floor plate 60 disposed somewhat above the floor plates 49. The plate 60 is connected with a transverse- 1y extending bottom plate 61 by means of 1 upper and lower angle irons 62 and 63 respectively, which are suitably secured to a vertically disposed tie plate 64 extending between and suitably connected with the side walls 21 of the body. The tie plate 64 is provided with an opening 65 for the passage of the front section 17 of the axle drive shaft, as shown in Fig. 5. The tie plate has rearwardly extending members 66 which are suitably connected with the vertically disposed end portions 67 channel as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The brake mechanism for the rear traction wheels may be of any preferred design. The brakes proper are not shown but those of the front and rear traction wheels are operated respectively by rods 68 and 69 which in turn are operated by alever 70,-Figs. 4 and6, which is fixed on a shaft 71 extending through the side wall 21 of the body and journaled in a bearing 72 which is preferably formed integral with the vertical end portion 32 of the bolster 30 and which projects into the longitudinally extending side tunnel, as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft has an arm 73 connected therewith which is pivotally connected with a brake rod 74 extending forwardly within the side tunnel as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. The rod is connected at its front end with a rocker 75 suitably supported within the side tunnel and from which extends an operating rod 76 arranged to be actuatedby a lever 77 which in turn is operated by a rod 78 which extends forwardly and is suitably connected with the foot pedal for operating .the brakes, not It will be seen, therefore, that the of the central inverted floorfrom injury by gun fire and that the brake T parts located in advance of the tunnels are also protected by being disposed rearwardly of the armored side walls of the vehicle.

As shown in Fig. 6 the sides of the body are provided with front and rear safety straps 79 and 80 which extend beneath the axles of the traction wheels, and prevent undue movement between the body and axles one relative to another when approaching their limits'of movement in one direction.

The front and rear wheels are protected by suitable fenders 81 and 8211s shown in Fig. '1, which are connected with the body in the usual or any preferred manner.

It will thus appear from the above descrip-- tion and the drawings that the invention provides a practical and advantageous motor vehicle construction by which the position and over-all height of the body of the vehicle are substantially lowered, so as to lower the center of gravity and increase the o crating stability without reducing the stan ing room in the body. Such advantages are particularly useful, for. example, in an armored car to reduce the visibi ity and exposure to fire, although it will be understood that such advantages are applicable as well to other types of vehicles. These advantageous results are made possible by simple and yet practical structural features in the body itself/and'in the provisions for suporting the same on the wheels, while maintainin full spring suspension and the other desira le supporting and operating parts.

-I claim as my invention:

1. In a motor vehicle, a body including a compartment, an'engine supporting frame extending forwardly of and connected with the walls of said compartment, wheels having axles for su porting said body, a longitudinally extending drive shaft operatively associated with the axles, springs extending longitudinally between the axles and body, a floor for said compartment disposed in a plane above which portions of the axles are movable upon relative" movement between the axles and body one toward another within the limits of movement of the spring suspension, said floor having side tunnels alined with the springs and transverse tunnels overlying the axles and arrangedto receive the latter when moved above the floor level and also having a tunnel overlying said shaft and arranged to receive the latter, arms extending upwardly from the axles, and radius rods connected with said arms and extending within the side tunnels and connected with the side walls of the-body.

2. In a motor'vehicle, a' body including side and end walls, spaced floor plates between the side walls adjacent the bottom thereof, longitudinally extending central and side tunnels extending upwardly within the body above the floor plates,- spaced trans- 'versely extending tunnels located between the central and side tunnels and communicating therewith, and a bolster extending between the transverse tunnels and beneath the body .in supporting engagement with the floor and. having its ends extending upwardly within the side tunnels and connected with he side walls of the body therein.

3. In a motor vehicle, a body including side and end walls, a bolster extending transversely its ends connected therewith, said bolster havin horizontal floor supportin' portions space apart at the center of the ody and connected by a central portionbelow the plane of the horizontal portions,- floor plates disposed upon said horizontal bolster ortions, and an inverted channel exten ing of said compartment, a longitu between the side walls and having 1 above and .overlying the space between the horizontal portions of the bolster.

4. In a motor vehicle, a bod forming a compartment and having its si e walls connected by a transversely extending bolster having a horizontally disposed floor su porting portion, a floor disposed upon 0 horizontal portion of the bolster, wheels having axles extending beneath said com art.- ment on opposite sides of the bolster, a rive shaft for the axles extending lon tudinally I inally disposed tunnel for the drive shaft extending above the verse tunnels for the axles extending above the floor level, said tunnels com rising inverted channels within which sai shaft and axles are free to move upon relative movement'of the wheels and body in a vertical direction.

5, In a motor vehicle, a body including side walls, wheels and axles for supporting the body, housings for the extending longitudinall of the body and operatively associated wit the axles, a floor for the body having an inverted channel overlying the drive shaft and extending longitudinally thereof, transversely extending channels overlyin the axle housings above the plane of the cor between said inverted channel and the side walls of the bod a bolster for supporting the body exten ing transversely therebeneath in engagement with the floor and between the axle ousings, a transverse support 'for the bolster extending beneath the same and springs connected wit said transverse support adjacent the extremities thereof and aving their ends extending at opposite sides thereof and connected with the axle housin 6. In a motor veficle including side walls, wheels and axles for su porting the bod housin for the axles, a rive shaft exten longitudinally of the body operatively associated with the axles, a floor for the body havin an inverted channel overlying the drive sha and extending longitudinally thereof above the plane of the floor, longitudinally extending tunnels located at the bottom of the side walls adjacent thereto and above-the plane of the floor, transversely extending channels overlying the axle housings between the inverted channel andsaid tunnels, supporting means for the body extending therebeneath, and

suspension means interposed between said supporting means and the housings of the 7. In a motor vehicle, a body, wheels and axles for supporting the body, housings for the axles, a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the body and operatively associated with the axles, a lon 'tudinally extending inverted channel over ying the drive shaft and extending upwardly withinthe floor level, and trans-' an armored body.-

axles, a drive shaft 7 body, floor plates posed below the top ofsaid channel on opposite sides thereofla bolster extending beneath by the axle housings.

climates with and disthe floor plates and connected with the body, and supporting means for the bolster carried 8. In a motor vehicle, a body including side and bottom walls, a bolster extending transversely between the side walls and having a horizontal portion extending beneath and forminga support for said bottom wall, the ends of the bolster being connected with the side walls of the body, said bottom wall conipris'ing floor plates spaced apart at the center of the body, an inverted channel extending above and overlying the space between said floor plates and forming a tunnel for receiving a longitudinally extending axle drive shaft, and longitudinally extending plate members cooperating with the side walls at points above and adjacentthe door plates to afi'ord side tunnels spaced from said inverted channel. a

' 9. In a motor vehicle, a body including side and end walls,.a bolster extending transversely beneath the side walls and having its-ends connected therewith, said bolster having horizontal floor supporting portions spaced apart.

. zontal portion, floor plates disposed upon said 1 posed on opposite sides of the bolster.

at the center of the central portion belowt and connected by a e plane of the horihorizontal bolster portions, an inverted channel extending above and overlying the space between the horizontal portions of the bolster, longitudinally extending plate members 00- operating with said side walls to afi'ord side tunnels above the lane of the floor, and transversely extending tunnels between the side tunnels and said inverted channel, said transversely extending tunnels being dis- 10. In a motor vehicle, a body includ' g side and end walls, a bolster extending trah s- I versely. between and connected with the side walls and having horizontal floor supporting rtions, floor plates disposed upon said horlzontal bolster portions, transversely extendingsitlverted channels on opposite sides of the be r connected with the deer plates and forming tunnels above the door plates, a supporting element for the bolster extending be neath and connected with the betteni therect, and vertically disposed connections between the bolster and said supporting element adjacent the ends of the latter. 7

11. In a motor vehicle, a hcdy, wheels and nice for-supporting the body, housings for the axles, a support-in element extending I "connected with said housings,

transversely beneath t e body between the -axle-housin s,-a sprin' connected with each end of said e ement an extending on opposite sides thereof, the'ends of said springs being a transversely extending bolster overlying the supporting element beneath the body having its ends connected with the side walls of the body and connected intermediate its ends with said supporting element, and a door for the body disposed upon said bolster.

12. In a motor vehicle, a body having side and bottom walls, wheels and axles for supporting the body, housings for the axles, a

olster extending beneath the body between the axle hcusings and having its ends connected with the side walls of the body, a supporting element for the bolster extending beneath and longitudinally of the bolster, a spring mounted on each end of said supporting element and extending onopposite sides thereof, u per and lower arms carried by the axle housings adjacent the outer ends of the latter, said lower arms receiving the ends of said springs, and two pairs of radius rods- .ing recess portions for receiving the axles when the latter are above the planeof the floor, longitudinally extending tunnels at the sides of the body above the plane of the floor, a transversely extending supporting structure for the body extending beneath the' floor and connected with the sides of the body, a

spring suspension interposed between said structure and the axles, and upper and lower sets of radius rods at each side of the body the upper radius rods extending within said tunnels and having their inner ends connected with the body'and their outer ends connected with the axles and the lower radius rods having their inner ends connected with said supporting structure and their outer ends connected with the axles.

14. In a motor vehicle, a body, wheels and axles for supporting the body, a floor for the body 1 relative to which the wheels and axles are nicvable in a vertical direction, said iioorbeing disposed a plane below the upper limits of movement of the axles and having transversely extending recessed portions for receiving the axles when the latter are above the plane of the fioonlon 'tudinallid ly extending tunnels at the sides 0 the y above the plane of the floor, a transversely extending supportin structure for the body extending beneath t e floor and connected with the sides of the body, a spring suspen-,'

sion interposed between said structure and theaxles, arms extending upwardly from the axles, and radius rods within each of the side tunnels and each being connected at one end I with one of the upstandin axle arms and connected at the o posite on with said bod I 15. A motor ve cle body comprisin si e 5 walls, a bolster extending transverse y beneath and connected with the side walls and having horizontal floor, supportinglportions, floor plates disposed upon said orizontal bolster portions, an inverted channel extending longitudinally of the body above the floor .plates and the bolster to form a tunnel be:

tween the sides of the body, longitudinally extending late members cooperating wit the side w s to afford side tunnels above the 15 plane of the floor, and transverselyextending tunnels overlying the floor plates between the side tunnels and said inverted channel and having their ends secured upon the vertical walls of said channel and said longitudinally extending late members,

. 16. A motor vehic e body comprising side walls, a bolster extending transversely between the side walls and having its ends connected therewith, said. bolster having horizontal floor sup rt'ing'portions spaced a art at the center 0 the body and connect by a central portion below said horizontal rtions to afford an openin below the p ane of the floor, floor plates isposed upon said 1 horizontal bolster portions, an inverted channel'overlyin said opening and communicating therewi said channel bein' connected with the floor plates'above the lsterand extending longitudinally of the body, and 35 side tunnels above the floor platesheach formed by horizontally and vertically displate'members connected respectively with one of the side walls of the body and one of said floor plates.

17. A motor vehicle body having side walls, floor plates having their inner edges aced apart at the center of the body and eiropfigsite edges'terminating short of the a side w fthe'body, an inverted central channel projeding upwardly from the inner of the floor plates and extending longitu ally of the g to afiord a receiving tunnel foran axle rive shaft, plates extendin upwardly and outwardly from the outer 1 of the floor plates to the side walls and coo rating with said walls .to afford longitu ally extending side tunnels, and.

transversely extendinfi'minverted channels above the floor plates tween said central channel and the side tunnels whereby to form axle tunnels, the side walls at points opposite the outer ends of. the axle receiving tunnels having o therein for accommodating the en of the axle'upon relative movement of the body and axle m a vertical direction, and a bolster extending beneath the floor lates with its endstraversing the side tunn and connected with the side walls of u the body.v

DAVID FEBGUSSOR. 

